A flag is usually a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.
The first flags were used to assist military coordination on battlefields, and flags have since evolved into a general tool for rudimentary signalling and identification, especially in environments where communication is similarly challenging (such as the maritime environment where semaphore is used). National flags are potent patriotic symbols with varied wide-ranging interpretations, often including strong military associations due to their original and ongoing military uses. Flags are also used in messaging, advertising, or for other decorative purposes. The study of flags is known as vexillology, from the Latin vexillum meaning flag or banner.
Read more about Flag: History, National Flags, Flags At Sea, Shapes and Designs, Religious Flags, Linguistic Flags, In Sports, In Politics, Vehicle Flags, Swimming Flags, Railway Flags, Flagpoles, Hoisting The Flag, Flags and Communication, Flapping
Other articles related to "flag, flags":
... Government would press for a change in the Iraqi flag to remove its pan-Arab symbolism, and to make a definitive break with the period of Ba'athist rule ... national symbols used by his government, there was also strong aversion to the flag from Iraq's Kurdish minority, who resented its evocation of pan-Arabism ... However, Iraqi opponents of changing the flag argued that since the flag had been used since 1963, long before Saddam Hussein's presidency, it was unfair to characterise it as a 'Saddamist' flag ...
... Flag was accepted by town's council on September 27, 2001 and was included in Belarus' coats of arms registry on January 23, 2002 ... Flag has rectangular form with width to length ratio equal 1 2, and consists of tree horizontal bands blue (6/9 of width), white (1/9 of width) and red (2 ...
... "Vexilloid" is a term used tenuously to describe vexillary (flag-like) objects used by countries, organizations, or individuals as a form of representation other than flags ... in 1958, he defined a vexilloid as An object which functions as a flag but differs from it in some respect, usually appearance ... can be used of any banner (vexillary object) which is not a flag ...
... When blown by the wind, flags are subject to wave-like motions that grow in amplitude along the length of the flag ... This is sometimes ascribed to the flag pole giving vortex shedding, however flags that are held by lanyards also can be seen to flap ...
... The flag of Iraq (Arabic علم العراق) includes the three equal horizontal red, white, and black stripes of the Arab Liberation Flag ...
Famous quotes containing the word flag:
“What is Americanism? Every one has a different answer. Some people say it is never to submit to the dictation of a King. Others say Americanism is the pride of liberty and the defence of an insult to the flag with their gore. When some half-developed person tramples on that flag, we should be ready to pour out the blood of the nation, they say. But do we not sit in silence when that flag waves over living conditions which should be an insult to all patriotism?”
—Anna Howard Shaw (1847–1919)
“Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow—red, yellow, brown, black and white—and we’re all precious in God’s sight.”
—Jesse Jackson (b. 1941)
“Columbus stood in his age as the pioneer of progress and enlightenment. The system of universal education is in our age the most prominent and salutary feature of the spirit of enlightenment, and it is peculiarly appropriate that the schools be made by the people the center of the day’s demonstration. Let the national flag float over every schoolhouse in the country and the exercises be such as shall impress upon our youth the patriotic duties of American citizenship.”
—Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)